From the Victorian terror of being buried alive to the rise of spiritualist séances, haunted science experiments, and Houdini’s crusade against fake mediums, this episode digs into the true and truly bizarre history behind our fascination with the dead. Happy Halloween!
In this episode of Obsessed With Death, Rob talks with author and artist FREAKBAiT about how mortality fuels creativity, using death as motivation, balancing humor with darker themes, psychedelic experiences, and the idea of leaving behind unfinished work to be shared after death.
Bestselling author Mary Roach joins Obsessed With Death to talk about her new book Replaceable You, the fears of aging vs. dying, what it’s like to step inside a 1950s iron lung, and why she originally fought against the now iconic toe-tag cover of Stiff.
We’re revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.
In this episode we dive into the complex and often misunderstood world of assisted death, exploring the emotional, ethical, and deeply human sides of end-of-life choices. From eligibility requirements and shifting legislation to powerful stories of final moments.
Originally published on February 8th, 2022.
In this episode, Rob is joined by Grace, whose lifelong fascination with death and cemeteries led her to an unexpected career documenting grave sites and sharing the stories of those who’ve passed. Grace shares how her connection to the other side evolved into a meaningful mission to honor the forgotten, support grieving families, and keep memories alive.
Comedian Jay Larson joins Obsessed with Death to talk about growing up with an older family, random chest pains, why being a dad makes him want to stick around a lot longer, and how dark thoughts can still come from a good place.
We’re revisiting powerful conversations as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.
In this episode, Rob chats with bestselling author Sam Kean about the dark, bizarre history of grave robbing in the name of science. From drunken med students digging up fresh corpses to the riot-inducing public backlash, they explore how anatomy’s early days were fueled by body snatching—and how some doctors even did the digging themselves.
Inspired by Kean’s book The Ice Pick Surgeon.
Originally published on 7/16/21.
In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob sits down with artist Shampoooty, known for creating nostalgic, adult-themed toys that explore death, addiction, and the messiness of adulthood through humor and physical art. They discuss how a childhood panic about death evolved into a creative mission to spark conversations about mortality using playful objects like toy hearses and funeral sets, even catching the attention of grief therapists looking for tools to help kids process loss.
We’re revisiting a powerful conversation as part of our Archive Spotlight, where we highlight meaningful conversations from the past.
In this episode of Obsessed with Death, we talk with Joshua, who used AI to create a chatbot modeled after his late fiancée, Jessica—a striking and deeply personal attempt to process long-buried grief.
Originally published July 29, 2021
In this episode of Obsessed with Death, Rob is joined by writer and artist Z.G. Burnett, who unexpectedly won a colonial-era gravestone at an auction and is now on a mission to uncover its origins and return it to its rightful resting place. Together, they explore the ethics of buying and selling grave markers, the cultural disconnect from death in America, and the deep and sometimes unconventional ways we try to leave a legacy.
Comedian Anthony DeVito joins Rob and Greg for a hilarious and deeply personal conversation about mortality, family secrets, and their lifelong flirtation with hypochondria. Anthony opens up about learning in adulthood that his father was killed in a mob-related murder, and how a childhood filled with loss shaped his outlook on life and death.
They also spiral into absurd territory, debating ethical cloning, and cannibalism, making this episode absolutely unhinged, and weirdly inspiring.
Diagnosed with end-stage heart failure, Sofia walks us through the mysterious early symptoms, her emergency hospitalization, and the rapid decision to receive an LVAD that now keeps her alive.
You can follow Sofia on TikTok here.
In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss the decision to deny parole to Yolanda Saldívar, who killed singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez in 1995, and whether a 64-year-old grandma should still be considered a public threat. They also dive into the bizarre case of Dr. Gerhardt Konig, a Maui anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill his wife during a hike by using a rock and a cliff - plus much more!
On this episode of Obsessed with Death, singer-songwriter Kevin Devine joins for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about mortality, grief, and how becoming a parent changed his perspective on purpose and risk. He reflects on early encounters with death, the emotional impact of losing his brother, sobriety, artistic interpretation, and how music about death fosters connection more than explanation.
In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss an Australian man who lived 100 days with a titanium artificial heart before a successful transplant, signaling a potential shift in heart failure treatment. In South Carolina, Brad Sigmon was executed by firing squad, the first in the U.S. in 15 years—raising questions about whether it's more humane than lethal injection. Finally, we unpack the mysterious deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, whose timeline of events, hantavirus diagnosis, and tragic pet situation have sparked new intrigue.
On this episode of Obsessed with Death, we dive into the fascinating world of gravestone recipes with Rosie Grant, a TikTok creator and author of an upcoming cookbook that uncovers the stories behind culinary epitaphs. Rosie shares her journey of tracking down families, collecting recipes from headstones, and preserving the legacies of those who left their favorite dishes behind. We explore the intersection of food, memory, and death, and how a simple recipe can tell a lifetime of stories.
In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss an Indiana jump-rope champion who used his double-Dutch ropes to rescue a drowning man and his dog, NASA’s concerns over asteroid 2024 YR4 and its small but real chance of hitting Earth—or the moon—and Delta’s unexpected $30,000 payout to passengers after a flight flipped on landing in Toronto.
Ömer Sami, the director of Eternal Father, joins the show to talk about his documentary about how a father’s attempt to defy death with cryonic preservation affects his family’s lives.
You can watch the full documentary by clickinghere.
In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the importance of making that yearly check-up with your doctor a non-negotiable part of your routine and explore the idea of having open text communication with your doctor—should it really be that accessible? They also uncover a startling and often overlooked trend: death rates spike on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas, and New Year’s Day, a phenomenon that still leaves scientists puzzled.
Hosts Kendel & Rachel, aren’t professionals just professional grievers who started a podcast to help normalize and build community for those dealing with grief and loss.
